Anti-Semitism: 'Corbyn's lack of action makes it look like approval'

Jeremy Corbyn needs to ensure anti-Semites are removed from Labour, but the absence of him calling for this makes it look as if he approves of them, according to a Labour campaign group director.

The anti-Semitism row in the Labour Party continues as The Sunday Times claims there are more than 2,000 anti-Semitic, abusive or racist comments within pro-Jeremy Corbyn Facebook groups. A Labour spokesperson has said the groups aren't connected to the party.

Richard Angell, the director Labour group Progress, told Penny Smith: "Until [the National Executive Committee] say [anti-Semites] 'you are not welcome, get out' this problem is not going to be dealt with.

"The only person they’ll listen to is it coming from Jeremy Corbyn and the absence of him saying it looks like its approval."

The Labour leader should "not delete his Facebook profile. He should be using his Facebook profile to send direct messages to these [anti-Semites] saying 'you don’t speak for me. I don’t want you to be having a for the many hashtag or a Momentum logo or a Jeremy Corbyn this that or the other and saying this hateful stuff'."

At the moment the party "can’t get anything done unless it gets picked up in the press.

"It’s a little bit embarrassing for the Labour Party. They suspend [the anti-Semites] and then they say 'nothing to see here'."